Central Park–Getting an AED into the Heart of New York City

Quite honestly, I did not know where to start having never been to Central Park. All I knew was that it was of a large scale and that we needed to find a secure location for the AED.

I wasn’t about to let any obstacle deter me.

Mayor Bloomberg is obviously a very busy man and I respect the work that he does for the State of NY but I also believed that the work Rescue Heart does is of importance and if saving lives and making a community a safer place doesn’t get attention, I do not know what will.

I made a call to Mayor Bloomberg and his Chief’s of Staff for Parks and Recreation to get the ball rolling. We engaged in a few conversations and they were more than happy to help us find a secure location for the AED. There are legalities and codes that need to be followed when installing an AED.

It was all falling into place but then, Hurricane Sandy hit. This took priority, naturally, which caused a delay in the process.

Some months passed and we were back in communication to get the AED placed in NYC.

In the meantime, I had the AED engraved with the donors names and got it ready for presentation. May 2013, I received a call from The Mayor Bloomberg’s office. A call that I had been long waiting for saying that “we have a secure location for your AED.”

All of us at Rescue Heart were overjoyed! It took a year working collaboratively to get this end result. The Zussman family, The Rescue Heart Foundation Board members and myself will be flying to NYC for the AED presentation sometime after the New Year!

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What is an AED?

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a lightweight, portable device that delivers an electric shock through the chest to the heart.

The shock can stop an irregular rhythm and allow a normal rhythm to resume in a heart in sudden cardiac arrest.

Sudden cardiac arrest is an abrupt loss of heart function. If it’s not treated within minutes, it quickly leads to death.

Most sudden cardiac arrests result from ventricular fibrillation. This is a rapid and unsynchronized heart rhythm starting in the heart’s lower pumping chambers (the ventricles).

The heart must be “defibrillated” quickly, because a victim’s chance of surviving drops by 7 to 10 percent for every minute a normal heartbeat isn’t restored.

Why are AEDs important?

AEDs make it possible for more people to respond to a medical emergency where defibrillation is required. Because AEDs are portable, they can be used by nonmedical people. They can be made part of emergency response programs that also include rapid use of 9-1-1 and prompt delivery of cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). All three of these activities are vital to improving survival from cardiac arrest.

How does an AED work?

A built-in computer checks a victim’s heart rhythm through adhesive electrodes. The computer calculates whether defibrillation is needed. If it is, a recorded voice tells the rescuer to press the shock button on the AED. This shock momentarily stuns the heart and stops all activity. It gives the heart the chance to resume beating effectively. Instructions guide the user through the process.

Who can use an AED?

Ideally, everyone would receive training on the use of an AED. Unfortunately, most people's first interaction with an AED occurs during a life or death situation when a co-worker, friend, or passerby suffers cardiac arrest. So people without a medical background are encouraged in a crisis to respond by opening the AED, following the instructions and administering the necessary treatment. Most states have Good Samaritan Laws that protect laypersons offering emergency aid.

Are AEDs safe to use?

AEDs are safe to use. Studies have shown that 90 percent of the time AEDs are able to detect a rhythm that should be defibrillated. And 95 percent of the time they are able to recommend NOT shocking when the computer shows defibrillation is not indicated.

About Angie Edgerly

She is a whirlwind of activity, always on the go, always dreaming up new projects. She has a passion to help people who are suffering. This has led her to Kenya, Haiti, and camps on Catalina Island and West Virginia.

Rescue Hearts Expands

Rescue Heart is growing.
If you have an interest in learning how to open a Rescue Heart Chapter in your town or city, please contact Angie Edgerly on Contact Page or at 714-222-2400. We welcome all inquiries.